Page:Way to wealth (2).pdf/12

12 " Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse,

Ere Fancy you consult, consult your purse."

And again, " Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy." When you have bought one fine thing you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece ; but poor Dick says, “ It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it ;" and it is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as the frog to swell, in order to equal the ox.

" Vessels large may venture more,

But little boats should keep near shore."

'Tis, however, a folly soon punished ; for " Pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt," as poor Richard says. And in another place,

“ Pride breakfasted with Plenty,

Dined with Poverty,

And supped with Infamy."

And, after all, of what use is this pride of appearance, for which so much is risked, so much is suffered ? It cannot promote health, nor ease pain ; it makes no increase of merit in the person ; it creates envy ; it hastens misfortune.

" What is a butterfly ? at best

He's but a caterpillar drest ;

The gandy fop's his picure just ;"

as poor Richard says.

But what madness must it be to run in debt for those superfluities ! We are offered by the terms of this sale, six months credit ; and that, perhaps, has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But ah ! think what you do when you run in debt ; you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor, you will be in fear when you speak to him, you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking exeuses, and, by degrees, come to lose your veracity, and sink into base, downright lying ; for, as poor Richard says, " The second vice is lying ; the first is running in debt."

And again to the same purpose, " Lying rides upon debt's back ;" whereas a free-born Briton ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue." It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright," as poor Richard truly says.